Assistive Technology Newsletter
Volume 2, No. 2
District Information
Tech Talk
Helping children learn to their full potential
Funding for this publication made possible with a grant from the MN Dept. of Education. The
source of the funds is federal award Special Education – Programs to States, CDFA 84.027A.
Help Your Child Become Organized
Foster the Development of
Organizational Independence
Using Assistive Technology
Using
AT at Home
Color Coding
Use color
coding aides
to highlight
important
information!
Planners
Your child can
use a planner
to help
organize
homework,
tests, and life
in general.
Note Taking Aid
There are
many
assistive apps
to aide your
child.
Evernote is
one of them!
organized?
Lack of organization can be a barrier to a
student completing work successfully
both at school and at home. While it is
not taught itself as a subject in school,
organization can have a significant
impact on student achievement in all
subjects. Students may not show their full
potential in school because poor
organizational skills may limit their ability
to track assignments and turn in
completed work on time. Organizational
skills are necessary to ensure long-term
success in future educational and work
environments.
Some students need additional supports
to build organizational skills. In fact, most
of us use tools of one kind or another to
stay organized! Parents can help their
children who have organizational
difficulties by encouraging the use of
assistive technology tools (AT) for
organization. Organizational AT tools
help students do the work! Over time,
these assistive tools may be used by
students to develop independent
strategies for organizing tasks and
information, time and materials.
Low-Tech Tools!
AT tools for organization come in many
forms. Some tools are simple low tech
supports we can buy locally at low-cost or
even make at home! For example,
elementary students benefit from
Homework Folders that provide a ‘home’
for placing unfinished work. Secondary
students benefit from Homework View
Binders that include divider tabs for each
of their classes. Homework pages,
chapter references or reading stop
points can be marked with Color
Flags. Color-coded Visuals provide
maps, schedules, required materials
and task expectations for daily
classes using pictures or words.
Similarly, Visual Mini Schedules
provide the sequence of steps or
requirements for individual work
activities. Timers set for defined work
periods focus students to get work
done. As a backdrop, music or
masking noise can be used to block
out distractions. Lastly, we all know
how often parents remind children
not to walk out the door in the
mornings without needed items. A
visual High-Five posted by the back
door that shows or lists the essential
five items to be taken each morning
puts the child in the ‘responsible’
driver’s seat. Don’t forget the
‘special’ slot for those unusual items
such as signed permission slips!
High-Tech Tools!
A wide gamut of organizational tools
is made available through computers
and electronics devices. New hightech assistive tools and applications
are coming out on the market almost
by the day. There are thousands of
organizational apps for tablet devices
alone! This wide variety of available
tools can make deciding on the right
solutions for your child difficult and,
sometimes, overwhelming. Talking to
your child’s IEP team will help you
determine effective AT solutions for
building your child’s organizational
skills set. A SETT may be suggested
as an AT evaluation tool to gain
information about your child’s skill
sets and the tasks required of him/her
across environments in order to
recommend ‘best-fit’ tools.
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AT Tools SupportInf
Organization
-Microsoft Outlook/GoBinder
(Agilix): Color code calendar
categories by subject, set reminders
and priority levels
-Take photos of posted
assignments: Use cell phone/iPod
Touch/iPad
-Google Drive: Facilitate homeschool writing assignments on-line
(autosaves!)
-Livescribe Pen: Take/record notes
in manageable segments for review
-Video model multiple-step tasks
-Time Timer, Pocket Timer,
Invisible Clock: Timers
-Watch Minder: Set to vibrate or use
different tones for different tasks or
reminders, add memos
-Free on-line graphic organizers:
https://bubbl.us/
http://www.mindmeister.com/
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wi
ki/index.php/Main_Page
-Mark-My-Time: Digital book light
and bookmark
-Electronic Checklists: Use an
electronic ‘to do’ list generator
http://www.scholastic.com/kids/ho
mework/organizer.htm
-Boardmaker, Writing With
Symbols: Create picture schedules
Informational Resources:
Oklahoma Assistive Technology
Center – Organizational Resources:
http://www.theoatc.org/resources/Orga
nization.asp
Wisconsin Assistive Technology
Initiative - Assistive Technology for
Organization:
www.wati.org
Georgia Project for Assistive
Technology – Assistive Technology
Devices – Study and Organizational:
www.gpat.org
Onion Mountain Technology:
http://www.onionmountaintech.com/
Homework Support:
http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homew
ork/
Assistive Technology – 4 All
Learners:
http://assistivetech4alllearners.wikispaces.com/
Inspired Learning Community:
http://www.inspiration.com/community/
Apps Support
Organization
-iPad /GoogleCalendars: Synch
multiple phone and on-line calendars
-My Homework: Organize by class
-Schoolbook: Launch timetable of
classes with teachers and locations
-Astrid, YadaHome: Create
prioritized task list using speech
recognition
-Picture Planner: Create event
planner
-First/Then: Create picture supports
-iPrompts: Create timers or visual
schedules
-Pictello Model step of task w/video
-Soundnote: Record a note!
-Noteability! Take notes that include
webclips and drawings
-Audio Note: Record/organize notes
-Evernote: Store notes on-line for
‘everywhere’ access
Jotnot: Scan, record the page
Lannotate: Write on scanned
document
-Genius Scan: Scan from your pocket
-DocScan: Take a pic of homework,
bring into Adobe app
-iCloud: Create on-line storage for
documents and pictures
-DropBox: Share documents/pics
between school and home using online storage box
-TimeTimer: Create a visual timer
Parent Questions:
How can I help my child
organize her time better and
stay on top of assignments?
-Establish a system for doing
homework and a time to do it
-Use daily paper/electronic “to do”
lists; check-off when complete
-Check assignments and grades
weekly to help students avoid
getting behind. Many districts
provide a web based tool your child
can use to find this information.
-Plan long assignments by mapping
backwards from the due date
-Use an Assignment Calculator to
break down tasks and set shortterm goals: https://rpc.elm4you.org/
-Plan time required for completing
an assignment and set a timer to
stay focused and get it done.
My son has trouble finding and
focusing on the right information
when he needs it! How can I help?
-Help set up a single folder system with
homework due on one side and
homework completed on the other side
-Use Dana all-in-one word processor,
note taker and organizer; keep notes,
assignments and schedule together
-For efficiency, use the ‘Touch it Once’
policy. Put papers and assignments in
the right spot the first time sorted.
-Use highlighters, highlighting tabs/tape,
and colored flags to identify specific
information and assignments
-Use reading windows and pocket
magnifiers to increase focus on specific
information or problems on a page
-Work on a clean desk. Store supplies
separately.
How can I help my child keep track
of materials at school? Things get
lost in the locker!
-Set up a supply container for art
supplies and daily work tools
-Use color coded notebooks and
plastic pockets to identify specific
materials
-Keep a running list of items to be
taken home on phone or planner
-Establish a locker management
routine:
 Organize materials from
top to bottom based on
class schedule
 Place materials to be
taken home on top shelf
 Post a locker cleaning
check-off schedule on
door
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